I. God’s Judgment Is Inescapable Vs. 1-4
A. The Man Who Judges Will Be Judged V. 1
1. Chapter 1 is about people who reject God, and live openly sinful lives.
2. Chapter 2 is about people who agree with the standards (laws) of God, and judge those in Chapter 1, but think themselves innocent before God, while actually being guilty.
3. There are similarities between these two groups of people.
a. Both groups have a knowledge of God as Creator and judge. (1:20; 1:32, 2:2)
b. Both groups go against what they know of God. (1:32, 2:2)
4. There are differences between these two groups.
a. The people in Chapter 1 know they are doing wrong, and not only continue in it, but approve of others that do the same things. They are consistent. (1:32)
b. The people in Chapter 2 do the same things as those in Chapter 1, but condemn them, as they excuse themselves. (2:2)
5. The first group is consistent in their sin; the second group is hypocritical.
6. The second group ought to maintain their analysis of sin, but apply it to themselves.
7. Denney- “The sin of the Jews (moral man) was the same, but their sins were not”.
a. The sin of the moral man and is more refined, less blatant, and more justified by culture and religion. But it is still sin before God, and worthy of judgment.
8. These moralists not only condemned the group of Chapter 1, but they sought to make men reform and be like them, and hence, “be saved”. This is man-made religion.
B. God’s Judgment Is According To What Is True V. 2
1. God’s judgment is not according to public or private opinion.
2. It is not according to what voters or politicians decide is good or bad, right or wrong.
3. God’s judgment is according to His perfect Holiness, which is everlasting/unchanging
C. God’s Merciful Delay In Judgment Vs. 3, 4
1. V.3 do you think- to count, to take into account, to reckon
a. “Have you come to the conclusion that “they” are guilty, but “you” are innocent?
2. V.4 God’s delayed judgment is to lead people to repentance
a. Repentance- A change of mind, with a change of lifestyle.
b. The self-righteous moralist may account God’s longsuffering as approval.
c. Despise- to look down upon, “to think a thing down”. To not see it for what it is.
II. God’s Judgment Is Righteous Vs. 5-11
A. The Unsaved Moral Critic Is Storing Up Judgment V. 5
1. The longer the moral critic denies his wrongdoing, the more judgment he accumulates.
2. Though outwardly moral, his heart is hard, and he will not repent.
3. He is like an investor who makes regular deposits; he is accumulating judgment.
4. God withholds immediate judgment that this man might repent and be saved.
B. Our Lives Determine Our Judgment Vs. 6-11
1. This is not salvation by works, (see 1:16) but rather, works that indicate salvation.
2. Conversely, the unsaved man has a lifetime of works that are evident and condemn him
III. God’s Judgment Is Impartial Vs. 12-16
A. God Will Judge Those Who Have Sinned V. 12
1. God will judge both those who have never heard His Law, and those who have.
2. Some have lived without hearing the word of God. They will not be judged by that
standard, but by the sins they committed though they were ignorant of God’s Law.
3. Those who have heard the Law of God will be judged by that standard. If they have sinned against the revealed Word of God, they will be judged by that standard.
4. There is a higher responsibility and accountability to those who have heard God’s word and understood it. Both groups are judged for the sins they have committed.
B. Hearing Or Not Hearing The Law, And Doing It Vs. 13-15
1. V. 13 Merely hearing, reading, and knowing God’s Law doesn’t save a man.
a. It actually makes him more accountable than the man who is ignorant of God’s Law
2. Vs. 14, 15a– The un-churched man has some of God’s law written upon his heart.
a. Exodus 20:12-17 (Commandments 5-10, the “Second Tablet” of the law)
b. Most people believe that these things are good and right.
c. They may grow to deny them, but they begin life being aware of them.
d. Some cultures may promote the exact opposite of some of these values, but they violated their consciences to do so.
3. He may deny that inner witness as the years go by.
4. His culture may tell him to ignore that inner voice of God’s Law, and he might.
5. V. 15b- As man responds rightly or wrongly to God’ Law, his heart either accuses him of wrongdoing or affirms that he did the right thing.
6. It is as though the Law of God is the law of the land.
a. Part of his conscience is like a prosecuting attorney.
b. The other part of his conscience is like a defense attorney.
c. That internal argument goes on constantly.
7. That internal argument is designed to lead the man to God.
a. It is difficult to love with that internal argument going on, day after day.
b. If the man agrees with the Law of God written upon his heart, but constantly fails, then he will try to make himself perfect, or he will cry out to God for forgiveness.
c. If man denies that inner voice, then the soft conscience towards God’s Law, will become a dull conscience, and eventually, a seared conscience.
C. The Gospel And Judgment V. 16
1. God will judge not only the visible sins of man, but his secret ones too.
2. Judgment of sins has been committed to Jesus Christ.
a. All mankind will stand before Jesus.
b. To the saved, He is their defense attorney, having paid for their sins by giving his life and shedding His blood.
c. To the unsaved, He both the prosecuting attorney and the judge.
i. He will clearly and factually present all the evidence
ii. Nothing will be hidden or overlooked.
iii. The facts will speak, and the judgment will be made.
3. “According to my gospel”-
a. The Gospel message is about man’s sinfulness, and God’s offer of pardon for sin.
b. That pardon is not based upon leniency, where justice is not served.
c. It is based on complete justice, the penalty due the sinner, was transferred to Jesus.
d. The judicial demands of God’s Law are satisfied, and that sin is paid for.
e. Either man pays for his own sins, or accepts that Jesus paid on His behalf.
f. The Gospel says if man refuses God’s pardon, then he will be judged for eternity.
4. See 2 Samuel 12:1-13 David stepped away from his double standard, and repented